Anyone else out there struggling with how to display typing results in a way that feels rewarding for the students but doesn't kill you by making you update it too frequently? I've been there. After year five of teaching tech, I've settled on a system that I like. My administrator also loves it because he can highlight some of our best typists when he gives tours of the school (win-win!).
The overview:
The board is divided into the separate Words Per Minute (wpm) goals. Each wpm goal is color-coded and that color represents a given grade level. When a student reaches the goal for their grade level, they get added to the board! Their new goal is to see if they can progress their skills to make it into the next grade level's goal. Move their name to that new goal section once they achieve it.
- I only record scores for my 2nd-6th graders because Kinder and 1st have enough to concentrate on just by learning to recognize some typing basics.
- I only record scores on typing "competition" days - if they achieve a typing goal on a practice day, I congratulate them and tell them that I will jot it down to add as their score on competition days. By doing this, I eliminate the number of times that I end up printing new names of students to add to the board.
- I increment my typing goals by 5 wpm for each grade, starting with 10 wpm. I have found this to be a challenge for my young typists, but it is attainable!
- I added a 40+ section to the board because I wanted the 6th graders to have something to strive for. I arrange the 40+ typists from highest to lowest for further competitive motivation. I also list their exact wpm in this section. I do this by putting little round number tiles (seen above in pink) next to their names so I can update them as frequently as they improve.
- I do NOT add students to sections that are below their grade level goal. For example: the third grade goal is 15 wpm. If 3rd grade Jonny types 12 wpm, I do not add him to the 2nd grade goal section - he must meet his own grade level goal to qualify to be on the board.
- The grade level MVP is the most improved typing scorer because if I did the highest overall score, it would nearly always be the same students.
So you know how I said this was supposed to limit how often I am updating the board... it really does! I record a typing grade (competition days) twice per trimester so a total of 6 times per school year. I make sure to schedule the competition days in the same week for each grade level that way I can print all the new names and update the "Leading Class" and "MVP" sections all at once.
In my gradebook, I highlight scores that qualify students to make it on the board. I use a secondary highlighter color for students who just need to be moved from one section of the board to another (that way I don't recreate the same student's name twice).
After printing the newly needed names (on their corresponding grade level paper color), I start with removing the students who need to be moved. I re-staple them up in their new sections. Then, add the new names!
Details about the supplies:
- I love the bright colors so I used Astrobright "Happy" colors - found here. I used maybe a third of the ream, if that.
- Choosing white as a butcher paper background worked out awesome because I could print the "Leading Class" and "MVP" on regular printer paper and not have to worry about my perfectionist cutting struggles (it's a problem).
So what do you think? How do you display your typing scores? Drop me a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!
Llama love,
Sam
